The Upside Down Returns: A New Animated Chapter
Stranger Things isn’t finished haunting Hawkins yet. After the grand finale of the main series, fans barely had time to catch their breath before Netflix dropped the curtain on its fresh animated spinoff: Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The platform has already teased audiences with the first six minutes of the show, setting high expectations for this animation-infused return to Indiana’s most mysterious town.
A Glimpse Into Early 1983 — And So Much More
The opening sequence of Tales From ’85 tonight recaptures the retro vibes that made the original iconic. Kicking off in early January—an era-defining winter for Hawkins—it introduces viewers to chilling new threats and the beloved group of friends braving them together. While the premiere wastes no time, first depicting a mysterious attack by an unknown entity on a hazmat-clad figure, the familiar transitions return us swiftly into the company of Mike, Nancy, Dustin, and Lucas.
This spinoff thrives on nostalgia but adds its own flavor. The animated title sequence is a direct homage to the roots of the series—dark, synth-heavy, and now even more visually dynamic. As Mike dashes out to join his friends, audiences are invited to a Hawkins where the monsters might be hiding, but friendship and Dungeons & Dragons are the real backbone of survival.
A Fresh Voice Cast With a Pop Culture Twist
Unlike the main live-action series, Tales From ’85 introduces a mostly new voice cast. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt takes on Eleven, joined by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper, and Jeremy Jordan as Steve. Supporting them, notable voices like Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips round out the ensemble, blending 80s nostalgia and modern animation flair with new performances.
The show is led creatively by Eric Robles as showrunner alongside original creators Matt and Ross Duffer as executive producers, ensuring a faithful yet inventive extension of the franchise.
Old School Thrills, New Mysteries
Set during the snowy winter after the worst of the Upside Down, it seems like Hawkins’ supernatural woes are at last winding down. Yet the opening minutes of Tales From ’85 quickly dispel that hope. The core cast enjoys fleeting moments of peace—snowball fights, classic tabletop gaming, the sense of childhood restored. But beneath Hawkins’ icy calm, something is stirring again. Is it another monstrous visitor from the Upside Down, a fresh mistake from Hawkins Lab, or a wholly new horror? The animation promises both familiar mythology and surprising new directions, putting the next generation of fans and return viewers in the heart of the action.
Tales From ’85 arrives soon on Netflix, aiming to heal the mixed reception of the main series’ finale and deliver another dose of high-stakes, small-town adventure. For dedicated Stranger Things followers—old and new—returning to Hawkins in animated form is bound to become a fresh weekly ritual. The countdown to new episodes begins now.
